Commitment to extending suburban railway to Mandurah

4/12/96

The State Government is committed to extending the suburban railway to Mandurah.

Transport Minister Eric Charlton said that planning was well advanced on the Perth to Rockingham/Mandurah railway line.

"The State Government has approved funding of $23.1 million which will be used for land acquisition, design work and the first stage of a tunnel at Kenwick Junction. Construction of the tunnel works at Kenwick will begin in the second half of 1997," Mr Charlton said.

Work on the master plan was now progressing.

A total of 24 potential station sites had been identified, with three being planned in the Kwinana area to maximise access for residents.

"After an extensive study the Government is considering the options for the railway access into Rockingham which would put the centre of Rockingham on a through route to Mandurah," the Minister said.

He said a series of studies on transport needs in the area clearly showed that these needs would be best served by three complementary systems including:

·       the extension of the railway line to Mandurah via Kenwick;

·       a dedicated busway between Fremantle, Kwinana and Rockingham; and -

·       express buses on the Kwinana Freeway to South Street.

"The Department of Transport is accelerating planning so these projects can commence in the short term," Mr Charlton said.

"The Government has committed $15.7 million for the Freeway buslane and $500,000 to master plan the Rockingham to Fremantle transitway.

"The transitway will put Kwinana firmly on the rapid transit route to Fremantle from Rockingham."

Media contact: Sally Squires (09) 321 7333